- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Oxford Canal (copyright Simon MacMichael)Voles one, Velos nil - Oxford towpath plans thwarted
The presence of water voles by a towpath on the Oxford Canal has dealt an apparently terminal blow to a £200,000 plan to improve the surface of a towpath on the Oxford Canal.
Sustrans had announced plans to upgrade the surface of the towpath in North Oxofrd earlier this year, but now says that the discovery of rare water voles in the verge alongside the canal will make it impossible for the shared use path to adhere to the minimum width of 2 metres, falling 20cm short.
Many sections of the towpath are in a state of disrepair, and a wall on the opposite bank means it is impossible for the path to be relocated therem reports the Oxford Mail.
The newspaper says that Susanna Pressel, councillor for Jericho and Osney, has written to Sustrans to ask them to review the decision.
“I’m intensely disappointed,” she explained. “It looks like Sustrans is not going to budge. Even though many resurfaced towpaths are only 1.5m wide at most and work perfectly fine.
"Along some sections of the path, such as next to Aristotle Lane Recreation Ground, it is extremely unpleasant to cycle and walk on.
“So either we have a really dire situation or we have something slightly less than ideal,” added the Labour councillor.
Another Oxford City Council member, Liberal Democrat Jim Campbell, added: “It seems to me very unfortunate if, for the sake of eight inches, we are going to lose sufficient funding for a very important project.
“We are contacting as many people in high places as we can to see what can be done.”
Sustrans spokesman Matt Hemsley said that while the charity was keen to explore ways in which the issue could be resolved, currently there appears to be no way of finding a solution.
“The issue is that this path is not wide enough for our guidelines," he commented.
“We ask for a minimum of two metres and recommend three, because we want it to be safe for everyone. In this case it would be difficult to add on the extra 20cm because of the wildlife issues with water voles identified in the area.
“This issue probably isn’t going to be resolvable,” he added.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- johnsonmoog 1 hour 50 min ago
So, if Jamie needs 1000mg of sodium an hour, how many hydration tabs or elctrolyte mix does he need. I see SIS a hydration tab provides 798mg of...
- S.E. 2 hours 1 min ago
My guess is that they sell mainly on the German market - feel free to correct me. That might explain why they are not "pushing" their products,...
- ktache 2 hours 26 min ago
Now Emily Chappell really liked the Lezyne , I have the HV version, good, but I find the handle uncomfortable in use. I've often wondered about the...
- biking59boomer 1 hour 33 min ago
What about this one!? Taken in Cardiff Civic Centre 1939
- Muddy Ford 2 hours 36 min ago
Charlie Alliston got 18mths and is the reference case (because there are so few cases) for all campaigns by anti-cyclists that 'cyclists are not...
- belugabob 3 hours 38 min ago
My local football practice pitches (all weather, in a fenced off area, are regularly the scene of inconsiderate parking, with vehicles blocking the...
- chrisonabike 3 hours 55 min ago
Don't forget though "Englishman's home is his castle" - which includes my rights to grow a giant curtain wall of Leylandii to "protect my privacy"....
- Spangly Shiny 4 hours 3 min ago
Assos ASOS anyone?
- chrisonabike 4 hours 16 min ago
Replace them all with Bromptons and they'd take up zero space within days or even hours, as they are all relocated elsewhere. To eBay or possibly...
- Andrewbanshee 4 hours 47 min ago
Where I live we are experiencing a lot of housing development on small and large plots of land. These developers don't seem to have problems...
Add new comment
15 comments
It's sad but I think Sustrans have done the right thing - I'd not want to cycle along a path that is too narrow, especially next to a canal. I'd hate to come off in to the canal, or knock someone else in!
I'm sure they have these path widths for a good reason, after all they've built enough of them.
@Bez, Flippa: it's pretty much the whole length, I'm afraid.
CraftyDutchie is right: unfortunately, when you settle for second-best, you get a barrage of comments like this, which are pretty much par for the course on certain forums. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Personally my feeling about the Oxford situation (as someone with a little knowledge of it) is that, since Sustrans shouldn't be expected to fully fund something that doesn't meet their guidelines, Oxfordshire County and Oxford City councils should make a greater contribution. If Sustrans' £200k contribution were reduced to £100k, and OCC and OxCity each gave £50k, perhaps everyone would be happy.
How long is the section that won't conform to guidelines?
If it's only around 100m or so, then surely the path could be upgraded at either side of that. I'm sure many would still use it, even if it meant getting off and walking for 100m. That could still be better than having to ride out of your way, or having to ride on the road when you don't want to.
Seems a shame that the money wont be used (unless it gets diverted elsewhere?). Sustrans are a walking charity too, i wonder what their guideline are for footpaths.
It's not clear from the article how extensive the vole-affected stretch of path is. It could be anything from a couple of yards to the whole length of the path.
If it's only a short stretch then I find it astounding that some sort of pragmatic adaptation couldn't be implemented; if it affects the whole path then, on the face of it at least, I can see both sides.
Great headline!
Fair enough re. voles as well. Minor disappointment for the cyclists of Oxford but to be fair on the whole they don't have it too bad.
Wind in the Willows
My local authority have put a shared use path of less than a metre in place (gateshead mbc between crawcrook and wylam) some parts are also overgrown, A sign (blue advisory) says cyclists join footway, is it Sustrans guidelines or also DoT?
They also have a 'cycle path' in Dunston which is actually a pavement and can't be much more than a metre wide in places.
I can think of lots of roads which are too narrow for cars to pass safely. Any chance we could get them allocated just for bikes?!
I agree with your logic. At least on narrow routes the cyclist should be given priority or is that too much to ask?
As it happens, I used to commute this most days and some parts (including I suspect ones that aren't part of these proposals) are (or were... this was four years ago) in a shocking state. But somehow, cyclists, joggers, walkers, houseboat residents (and their dogs) plus assorted wildlife (mind the ducklings and goslings in spring!) seemed to coexist.
All of which is to say... 2 metres would be unheard of luxury compared to what was there before. It's a shame that there appears to be so little flexibility on this. It's a lovely route into the city.
I suspect that by upgrading the towpath, cycling speeds would be a lot higher so there's more chance of conflict eg startled pedestrians.
We often slate cycle route improvements for not being good enough and parties involved settling for second best. Now they're sticking to their guns - damned if you do, damned if you don't?
Did you ever see a vole? Can you set up a hide and get a picture of one? I'm sure the towpath needs improving but on the other hand ... voles are cute.
How about a 1.5m wide section of path with a sign as you approach to warn you it's narrow and another sign saying beware of the voles
ftfy!